Olympics spiked with Louisiana flair

Danielle Scott-Arruda, a 35-year-old Woodlawn High School alum who represented her country on three Olympic volleyball teams, will compete once again in Beijing this month.

A Long Beach State graduate, Scott-Arruda plays middle blocker, and is the most experienced player on this year’s team. “It was an awesome moment when my name was called,” she said of her selection.

She won’t be the only Louisiana native on the court: Napoleonville native Kim Willoughby, 27, will join her as outside hitter. A graduate of the University of Hawaii, Willoughby will be competing in her first Olympic games.

The volleyball players are only two athletes with strong local ties, and not all will compete for the United States. Athletes from Jamaica to Estonia have trained in Red Stick. Other Olympians with local ties include:

Kelly Baptiste, 21

LSU senior • 100-meter dash

Trinidad and Tobago

A 9-time All-American and 3-time NCAA Mideast Regional champ, she hopes to extend her success in the 60-meters to the esteemed 100-meters.

Heather Brand, 25

LSU 2006 grad • 100-meter butterfly

Zimbabwe

Brand’s powerful swimming took her to the 2005 FINA World Championships. She swam four events at the match as the only representative athlete of LSU. Though she didn’t take home any honors from the World Championship, Brand held the position of team captain for her last two years at LSU and received SEC Academic Honors three years straight.

Lolo Jones, 26

LSU 2004 grad • 100-meter hurdles

U.S.A.

Jones holds rankings in LSU’s all-time top-three 60- and 100-meter hurdles. The Iowa native also claims 11 All-America honors and is a three-time National Champion.

Muna Lee, 26

LSU 2004 grad • 100-meter dash,

200-meter dash • U.S.A.

Lee left LSU as the most decorated track and field athlete in school history. Seven NCAA titles, seventh place in the 200-meter dash at the 2004 Olympic Games, two LSU records and 20 All-America honors are among Lee’s achievements.

Miko Malberg, 23

LSU senior • 50-meter and

100-meter freestyles swimming • Estonia

Malberg’s mark of 19.62 seconds for the 50-yard freestyle placed him as second-fastest in the event at LSU. Malberg made the SEC Academic Honor Roll all four years of college.

Jessica Ohanaja, 22

LSU senior • 100-meter hurdles • Nigeria

If her six titles for the 60-meter hurdles throughout the indoor season aren’t impressive enough, Ohanaja’s personal best time of 8 seconds for the event ought to do it.

Isa Phillips, 24

LSU 2007 grad • 400-meter hurdles

Jamaica

Phillips leaves LSU with the school’s second-fastest 400-meter hurdles time of 48.51 seconds. Such speed earned Phillips the NCAA Championship for his event.

Richard Thompson, 23

LSU 2008 grad • 100-meter dash

Trinidad and Tobago

Thompson is the fastest sprinter in LSU track and field history. He swept NCAA sprint titles for both 60-meter and 100-meters, and is a 4-time All-American.

Nickiesha Wilson, 22

LSU junior • 400-meter hurdles

Jamaica

Wilson made herself known at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, when she took fourth in the 400-meter hurdles. At 53.97 seconds, this feat also landed her an LSU record.